Forum Activity for @benjamin-w-barr-jr

Ben Barr Jr
@benjamin-w-barr-jr
02/16/12 11:12:12AM
65 posts



I just have to say that I may have gotten into a bit of a "mixed metaphor". Holden Caulfield from J D Salinger's novel Catcher in The Rye didn't say that, but instead asked "where do the ducks go in the winter?"

It appears that Indiana poet, James Whitcomb Riley may have actually been the first to coin the phrase when he wrote "when I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck."

This quote also seems to have been said by Theodore Roosevelt at one time and it was also used during the McCarthy trials for communism.

Ben Barr Jr
@benjamin-w-barr-jr
02/16/12 10:43:34AM
65 posts



I would think, in my humble opinion, that someone taking three strings off of a guitar and thereby calling it a dulcimer would be wrong. In the words of Holden Caulfield ( I think) If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck.

phil
@phil
02/16/12 07:47:29PM
129 posts



Here are some Videos Banjammer or a Banjmo

Anyone know where I can find plans to make me one of these? love the sound of them.

Joseph Besse
@joseph-besse
02/16/12 03:23:28PM
53 posts



I have McSpadden's banjomer and it works for me. Easy to play and has a good sound and is reasonably priced. I use it mostly for Civil War tunes and Stephen Foster tunes and a few blue grass types. I have it set up just like the one David Schnaufer used from McSpadden, with a cloth inserted in the hole on the bottom.

Ken Hulme
@ken-hulme
02/15/12 08:24:45PM
2,157 posts



Banjmo, banjammer, there are about as many spellings as there are people making them. All basically have a small drum head or tambourine imbedded in a dulcimer body, and diatonic fretboard that stops short of the drum so that a banjo type bridge can sit on top of the skin head. Can certainly be the perfect instrument for that special sound if you don't want to take up banjo, but don't necessarily sound great on all kinds of music.

Strumelia
@strumelia
02/14/12 10:05:27AM
2,425 posts

My two Keith Young Dulcimers


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

And speaking of using up small pieces of wood- Years ago when I ordered my limberjack "Clyde" from Keith, he told me he used up the leftover bits of dulcimer wood to make his limberjacks, mostly walnut pieces. He said that was why they danced so well- they were imbued with dulcimer wood spirit.

I have at least 10 different limberjacks- both new and old, but the two Keith ones are always the best dancers!

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/11/12 08:04:01PM
1,571 posts

My two Keith Young Dulcimers


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Me, too, Dave. Those "imperfections" can give an instrument real character.

David Bennett
@david-bennett
02/11/12 07:19:21PM
65 posts

My two Keith Young Dulcimers


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Yeah I really likeit too. Thereis a localdulcimer maker that makes his dulcimer so that thereare no imperfections in the wood, in fact he brags about it. Nice dulcimers butbecause of the type of wood he uses you can't tell one of his dulcimer from another. I really enjoy seeing the wood patterns and "imperfections" in everyones dulcimers.

Robin Thompson said:

Thanks for sharing the photos of the treasures Keith made for you, Dave! That wormy chestnut is so cool. . .

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/11/12 07:05:58PM
1,571 posts

My two Keith Young Dulcimers


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for sharing the photos of the treasures Keith made for you, Dave! That wormy chestnut is so cool. . .

David Bennett
@david-bennett
02/11/12 06:40:37PM
65 posts

My two Keith Young Dulcimers


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Might as well add the photo of my Keith Young limberjack too. I've seen a lot of very well done limberjacks that have been painted and/or dressed up. I've always been afraid to mess it up. Do need to find a little dulcimer for him...

Strumelia
@strumelia
02/11/12 04:59:41PM
2,425 posts

My two Keith Young Dulcimers


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

David, they are just lovely. I too have Keith's limberjacks- I absolutely adore them!

David Bennett
@david-bennett
02/11/12 04:38:22PM
65 posts

My two Keith Young Dulcimers


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I was saddened tolearn about Keiths passing on the 9tha little while ago.

Here's my Keith Young dulcimers (I should have had my Keith Young limberjack added to the photo as well). On the full size dulcimer: Walnut side/bottom, wormy chestnut top


updated by @david-bennett: 02/25/19 05:24:05AM
Steve Smith
@steve-smith
09/04/14 02:53:19PM
35 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Just to clear up an old comment (I wasn't a member at that time and didn'tsee it), the WNCDC taband midi files areuploaded toEverythingDulcimer about once a year. I think I may be a year or so behind, besides...

But the Western North Carolina Dulcimer Collective tab page is always up to date as of the current newsletter, and also includes mp3 recordings of each tune. They're the ones we used to send out on CD, but this is easier! One version is always the melody, the second isas-shown on the tab, andoften there's a third that is either finger-picked or playedat full-speed if it's a faster tune. (No tab for the fingerpicked versions, because I make them up as I record them!) And all of our tunes can be played on just the melody string with drones or with full chords, in either D-A-dd or D-A-AA.

The midi files are on both websites, although I really wonderwhether anyone uses them. But they're so tiny and so quick to produce with the notation software I use that they're no problem to provide, too. That software, by the way, is a DOS program I bought in 1989!

Ken Hulme said:

All of the Western North Carolina Dulcimer Collective (WNCDC) tabs are archived on EverythingDulcimer.com along with midi files to listen to.

Mark Nelson
@mark-nelson
02/03/14 06:17:48PM
1 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Howdy, all

I've uploaded some YouTube lessons to my channel , all of which have free tab available on my website .

I'll be doing more of this as time permits, so stay tuned.

Linda W. Collins
@linda-w-collins
12/20/13 01:56:03AM
24 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

You are welcome, Phil. That's a Blue Lion Dulcimer!

Linda

phil
@phil
12/19/13 11:47:09PM
129 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

thanks Linda. Love the in-lay on the neck of the Dulcimer on your front page.


updated by @phil: 07/07/15 09:33:47PM
Linda W. Collins
@linda-w-collins
12/19/13 09:05:30PM
24 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

I have a few free TABs on my website, and more will be added.

www.cabinhillmusic.com

Best to all,

Linda

Dan Goad
@dan-goad
11/28/13 07:10:59PM
155 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Lots of new folks joining and looking for tab. I thought I would give this thread a little bump and assist our new members a little bit

Ken Hulme
@ken-hulme
06/08/13 10:10:36AM
2,157 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

I'm techno-challenged sometimes. To me "midi" files are soundfiles. But Wayne's right. They aren't a real instrument playing, more like a synthesizer. Not every soundfile at ED Tab is a midi, most are quite good in fact.

Strumelia
@strumelia
06/08/13 08:42:47AM
2,425 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Beginners should also be aware of the fact that mtn dulcimer tabs can be intended either for chord playing style (melody notes are fretted on all strings), or for noter/drone playing style (entire melody fretted on the melody string only). The two kinds of tab can be quite different, so keep that in mind.

Ken Hulme
@ken-hulme
06/08/13 07:52:17AM
2,157 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Jessica - we can certainly share sites that contain music or tabs. There are restrictions here about sharing recordings of music not your own and not known to be public domain...

freetabs.org has an interesting "dulcimer" collection, but a great deal of it is tab for the Hammered Dulcimer, not Mountain Dulcimer. To use any of that site you also need to download the free program called TEFView if you do not own TableEdit.

Gila Mountain - my dear friend Kerry Coates - has not kept up with changes on her website for several years, so her links may or may not be valid. I think, for example, she still lists me as running a dulcimer club in Prescott, AZ, when in fact I haven't live there since 2002 and she was at my going away party. Kerry no longer makes her fabulous dulcimers, either.

Dusty Turtle
@dusty
02/28/13 02:08:25AM
1,874 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Ron Beardslee has recently begun putting a bunch of beginner tab up on the Redwood Dulcimer Day website: http://redwooddulcimerday.com/resources.html . Ron teaches the beginner class at RDD every year and usesthis tab for that class. If you are just starting out, this material is perfect.

Mark Tindle has made available a lot of tablature of common dulcimer tunes (especially hymns) in arrangements mainly for intermediate players: http://www.tindlemusic.com/tablature.htm .

Gary Gallier has posted a bunch of tab on the Gallier Brothers website, though I would not recommend it for beginners. Some of it is pretty difficult stuff: http://dulcimercentral.com/?page_id=6 .

The same is true of Neal Hellman, who hides an ecclectic assortment tab in the deep recesses of the Gourd Music website: http://www.gourd.com/dulcimertabs.html .

There is, in short, lots of tab available for every level of MD player. Make use of it. I do. But I would also urge you all not to be a slave to tab. Learn songs by ear. Make your own arrangements. Use your instrument to express yourself.

phil
@phil
09/28/12 08:30:52PM
129 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

that would have been way to easy, If there is a hard way to do something you can bet I will find it

Strumelia
@strumelia
09/28/12 06:31:14PM
2,425 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Phil, next time, just type in something like "free tab" into our FOTMD handy SEARCH BOX at the top right of any page here. It will pull up various threads showing links to free tab, and this thread is right on the second page of the search results. It's really easier to find stuff here by using the FOTMD search box!

phil said:

it took me all night to find this page again I so glade it still here. A few weeks ago my old laptop with all my links up and died on me. I have been going nuts trying to find some of the links I had and here are most of them, Thanks Folkfan and Vivian.

phil
@phil
09/28/12 12:14:13AM
129 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

it took me all night to find this page again I so glade it still here. A few weeks ago my old laptop with all my links up and died on me. I have been going nuts trying to find some of the links I had and here are most of them, Thanks Folkfan and Vivian.

Strumelia
@strumelia
02/11/12 04:57:35PM
2,425 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Vivian, I think anyone who looks in this DulcimerResources/Tab/Books forum will see the title of this thread and be able to see your post and links.

Vivian Hays
@vivian-hays
02/11/12 03:49:58PM
19 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

I'm just wondering, is there a way to post these links to free tab sites in a way that would be easy for people to find? As it is they seem to get buried in pages of other posts, unless there is a way already and I just haven't found it..I thought I saw some of these links once before, but could not relocate them, which is one reason I reposted the ones that I was familiar with. If there is already a permanent place to access certain links please let me know! Thanks

Vivian Hays
@vivian-hays
02/10/12 02:04:16PM
19 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Wow, those are nice sites. I had used Prussie Valley before, but had not the others. I forgot about using image search. Thanks!

john p
@john-p
02/10/12 01:56:23PM
173 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Another tip for TAB and SMN is to use Google IMAGE search instead of the general search.

Helps eliminate some of the dross.

john p

Vivian Hays
@vivian-hays
02/10/12 01:13:40PM
19 posts

Try these sites for free tab


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

I see that lots of people who are beginners like me and new to this are asking for tabs, or how to find tabs, and I thought I would post this...I have found lots of songs I am looking for on these sites. sniff.numachi.com has a very good database and tons of tab...I generally start by just doing a Google search ..."free dulcimer tab for____"and find tons of links that have the tabs.

http://sniff.numachi.com


updated by @vivian-hays: 08/01/23 03:04:29AM
folkfan
@folkfan
02/14/12 04:20:02PM
357 posts



You've mentioned 3 keys that you'd like to play with your instrument tuned to DGdd which would give you the key of G with the scale starting on 3 on the melody string. You'd have a D and G drone as you would with the traditional GDD tuning only the drones would be reverse. This would mean using DAA or 1-5-5 tabs.

If you play the middle string as the G on the open string, you could use DAd or 1-5-8 tabs. You wouldn't have the G drone though, only the lower D on bass and higher d on melody.

To play the key of D as DAdd all you need to do is tune the middle string one note higher from G to A. Use DAd tabs.

The Key of A is normally played AEE, AEA on a baritone and uses heavier gauge strings as the A is the A below the C3 or the C below middle C. However, if you are tuned to DGdd you can do a sort of reverse A as EAe by tuning you bass D one note up to E, the middle string G one note up to A, and the melody strings dd one note up to ee. Again you have the E and A drone with the a at 3 on the melody strings so you'd need DAA or 1-5-5 tabs.

If you are a chord player, you'll have to rearrange your fingers for the proper pattern, but if you're a melody drone player, the tunings should work.

I normally tune CGG but frequently go G by going to DGG . I tune my bass up one note and switch from 1-5-5 tab to 1-5-8. Any lower notes are on the bass string.

Try fiddling around with your tunings but remember to always keep the string you're tuning sounding. If it becomes to hard to change the note, stop tuning. The string will be stretched as far as it's limit.

Strumelia
@strumelia
02/14/12 02:41:47PM
2,425 posts



I keep two dulcimers- one for the keys of D & C, the other for the keys of A & G. That avoids 'most' of the wear and tear in going back and forth excessively. My A/G dulcimer has a slightly shorter scale length so I can tune up to e when playing in A.

My noter/drone blog has some detailed posts about how I use tunings to play mostly in D, G, and A.

Ken Hulme
@ken-hulme
02/14/12 01:48:04PM
2,157 posts



Do NOT crank the tuner on a non-vibrating string, any time you tune. Always pluck the string, and while it's singing make the change.

If it breaks, so what? You've got at least one spare set of strings, right?

Ken Hulme
@ken-hulme
02/14/12 06:50:33AM
2,157 posts



Nick - "he plays Ddd..." I told ya so Because Ddd has the D drones and the Mixolydian scale starts on D it plays well in that key D. And because the Ionian (major) scale starts on G it plays they of G well too. I far prefer it to DGdd.

John Shaw
@john-shaw
02/12/12 11:06:14AM
60 posts



Hello Nick. Unless you have a very long scale dulcimer (VSL 28.5 " or over) you should be able to tune your 14 gauge string up to d . If you want to try Ddd, which is a very distinctive and lively tuning, and you are worried about the string feeling too tight you could try a 13.

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